Bowler Maxwell under fire for leaking runs

Related coverage

Young offspinner Glenn Maxwell was Australia’s leading wicket-taker in his debut Test but he might find he’s back to running drinks very soon.

The 24-year-old boasts a bowling average of 31.75 after his 4-127 off 26 overs in India’s first innings of 503 as the home side claimed victory by an innings and 135 runs in the second Test in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

But coach and selector Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday Maxwell’s economy rate of 4.88 runs per over is a cause for concern.

The pitch in Mohali for the third Test starting on March 14 has a reputation for bounce and carry for the quicks, which suggests Maxwell’s spot could be in doubt as the second spinner.

Maxwell batted at No.8 (scoring 13 and eight) as the second allrounder behind seamer Moises Henriques at No.7.

Maxwell was the back-up spinner to left-armer Xavier Doherty in the second Test, with Doherty taking 3-131 off 46.1 overs and failing to strike until his 43rd over.

Doherty could also make way for a returning offspinner Nathan Lyon, who was moved aside and told to work on technical issues after taking 3-215 and 1-29 in the first Test in Chennai.

“Nathan still has a massive future and probably he is up there as our best spinner at the moment,” Arthur said.

“Doherty did what we know Doherty can do. He ran in, he went at under three an over and he caused problems when there was stuff for him to work with.

“Maxi was probably a little bit too loose.

“He’s taken four wickets. He’s created opportunities.

“But he’s gone at over four-and-a-half an over.”

Arthur wants a twin-spin attack to bowl tightly in a partnership.

“We weren’t able to do that because Maxi leaked a little bit,” Arthur said.

Australia played only two pace bowlers — Peter Siddle and James Pattinson — plus Henriques and two spinners in the second Test.

Left-armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson are the two back-up quicks in the 16-man squad.

Yes he mightn’t be of test quality, but 4/127 in his first test looks a bit better than 1/150 by Shane Warne in his debut. Funnily it was also against India at the SCG and India only had to bat once as well. And no I am not comparing them at all. It’s just that so many Roarers keep quoting statistics to support their argument, but disregard the same when it doesn’t suit. He may never play another test in his life and so be it but 4 wickets in a debut test is something that all bowlers would accept. And there is always a proviso if someone we don’t like is a bit successful. Batsmen going the tonk etc. Still not bad for a t.rd.

It’s a point that I have been meaning to make for some time. You often see people argue that a player who they have never seen play first class cricket (TV or live) should be in the team. They always use pure statistics to back up their case. These same people will then dismiss statistics when it comes to calling for someone to be dropped.

Totally agree with you. A good example is Cowan sure he hasn’t continued on from his starts but he has valued his wicket which means someone like Warner has a steady partner batting out an over or changing strike depending on who is fareing best.
In that way a more defensive player can also sheild one coming in by taking more of the strike and not playing rashly untill the shine comes off the ball or the bowlers get tired.
Another good example was Danny Morrison for new Zealand when he was batting at number 9 (Watson used to be 10) he had the World record for Ducks for a while but it wasn’t because he was useless it was because he was a rock.
He would play out entire overs without giving away his wicket and I don’t recall him playing many cross batted shots at all.
In fact he had many of his 0s were not outs which he also had a huge number of.
He was New Zealands nightwatchman for a longtime not a task to someone who only lasts a few deliveries.

considering Maxwell isnt even first choice spinner for Victoria, in some games not even second choice in some games. he was expensive but yet took wickets and created opportunities.
Doherty went for 131 & hardly looked threatening,
lyon went for 215 in one innings in the first test.
Australian cricket is going the way of the west indies did in the 90s, once a great team, slowly falling from grace, trying to hold on to that reputation, chopping and changing the side every game trying to find that winning combination, instead of having a long term plan, of a building a team

I find Arthur a bit confusing re his statements on spinners. He recently said he’s been disappointed by Lyon this summer. Fair enough. Yet he also says Lyon has a great future. I don’t believe Arthur means that. Sounds like he wants to drop Lyon and find the next Paul Harris.